FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Free Tip Sheet Helps Northern Homeowners Prepare Yards For Cold Winter Ahead

September 26, 2005 -- Most homeowners living in cold climates know from experience the damage that northern winters can inflict on their lawns, trees and gardens. What many are not aware of, however, is that much of this damage can be avoided by taking just a few simple steps to protect their investments in the fall. That’s why Northscaping has canvassed a group of experts from the northern horticultural and green services industry and compiled a helpful free tip sheet for northern homeowners and gardeners entitled “10 Essential Fall Yard Care Tips For Northerners”.

One common problem experienced by northern homeowners is winter damage to young or newly planted trees. This damage is often a result of sunscald, a condition where rapid heating and cooling of exposed bark on sunny days in late winter causes the cells of the bark tissues to rupture and die. This condition primarily affects young trees and those with smooth or light-colored bark such as maple trees, and is often fatal. And yet damage from sunscald is completely preventable – by simply wrapping the trunks of young trees with spiral plastic wraps available at almost any local garden centers, winter sunlight is reflected and the threat of sunscald is eliminated. An investment of $100 or more is protected for only 99 cents and 5 minutes of effort.

“Northern homeowners and gardeners are faced with more extreme winter challenges than those experienced by their counterparts even just a few hundred miles to their south” says Jim Kohut, President of Northscaping (www.northscaping.com), the leading internet resource for northern landscapers and gardeners. “Winter yard care advice offered in books and on the internet tends to be dispensed by ‘experts’ living in warmer climates who have never personally experienced the effects of our cold northern winters. As a result, their advice may not always be applicable to those living in the North. That’s why we’ve assembled these helpful tips from cold climate experts specifically tailored for northern yards and gardens.”

Northscaping is making the tip sheet available as part of its “Winter Preparation” theme throughout the month of October. The Northscaper e-Zine, a weekly online magazine for northern landscapers and gardeners, will feature a series of detailed articles on fall care for lawns, trees, shrubs and fall bulbs from notable northern experts, and resident horticulturalist and Landscape Architect Stefan Fediuk will offer personal perspectives to help northerners prepare for the challenges of the coming winter.

Here are a few other helpful winter preparation tips homeowners will find on the free tip sheet;